Morphology and Structure of C:Co, C:V, and C:Cu Nanocomposite Films

Abstract

Abstract The influence of transition metals (TM) type on the encapsulating carbon (C) medium during the growth of C:TM (TM = V, Co and Cu) composite films with a metal content of ∼30 at.‐% grown by ion beam co‐sputtering in the temperature range of RT‐500 °C is investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The nanostructure of both C:TM nanocomposite constituents is strongly affected by the TM type and the growth temperature. The nanoparticle size, shape, and phase depend on these parameters. Raman spectroscopy shows that all three metals enhance six‐fold ring clustering of the carbon phase independent of the nanoparticle type, size, shape and phase, and the effect is most pronounced at lower temperatures.